The Truman Show

The Truman Show has no similarities with a reality television show. Shows on television like Survivor or The Real World have knowing participants not just a random selection. Truman is born into a world he believes is real and is never given a choice as to whether he would like to live there or not. Reality television shows have willing participants who sign up for the environment they are put it. Christof claims in the movie that Truman has a choice and if he wanted to leave it would be inevitable to keep him there. Since people sign up for reality television I view that as moral, but in Truman’s case he knows nothing other than the enviorment he is put in. He is in the same situation as a prisoner in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.

As Truman begins to investigate everything and see it as it really is, his views are severely altered. He approaches everything a different way then he would go about approaching it normally. This happens to anyone when they come in contact with a new experience. When you get into a car accident, you drive differently, or when you meet people for the first time you tend to act more reserved.

Put in Truman’s position, I would want to pursue exploring life outside of Seahaven even though I had no knowledge of what I would confront. Everyone is curious and once even slightly exposed to a new environment anyone is going to naturally feel compelled to find answer their questions about it. However it would be difficult to know that a guaranteed perfect life with no uncomfortable situations would be left behind.

When Truman exits Seahaven he does not know what to expect. He knows nothing of the world that exists on the other side, and will be in shock when comes into different circumstances. The idea of The Truman Show is completely immoral. The entire world is being entertained by a prisoner with no idea what his life, family, morals or anything is. He exists in a completely fake world, thinking its real, forming real relationships and going through tragic losses. It is not right that Christof can try to condone Truman’s existence by claiming he has choices and he could easily escape. Truman is almost killed and even still Christof is more worried about his ratings than another human life.